Somanya Police, ECG attackers get GHC70,000 bail each

The 12 persons being held for attacking and vandalizing the Somanya Police station and office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the town have been granted GHC70,000 each with two sureties.

The 12, including an assemblyman said to be the mastermind of the attack and eventual vandalism, had on two occasions been denied bail by the Koforidua Circuit Court.

But their lawyer on Tuesday repeated his bail application on grounds of ill-health, noting most of the accused persons were unwell.

The lawyer also argued the Police appear not ready with its investigations into the matter for hearing to begin, and that the continuous stay in custody would be an infringement on the rights of the accused persons.

Consequent to that, the judge, Ms Mercy Adei Kotei, granted the accused persons bail and adjourned the case to July 28.

Eleven of the accused persons have pleaded not guilty to five counts of conspiracy, rioting with weapon, rioting, unlawful assembly and forcible entry while the assemblyman is facing three counts of causing damage, demonstrating without observing the public order act and provocation of riot.

Police say the assemblyman Ebenezer Jones Adamtey Dendendin led his accomplices to attack the offices of the Electricity Company of Ghana in Somanya on May 26, 2017 causing destruction to properties. His arrest triggered a further attack on the Police Station in Somanya on May 29, 2017 by some group of persons who demanded that the assemblyman be released from lawful custody.

They set ablaze a Police patrol vehicle. Thirteen of the rioters were arrested by the Police on Monday, May 29 and put before the Circuit Court the next day where each of them pleaded not guilty five counts.